Overview of Restorative Practices and How it is Integrated at HGCS

What is Restorative Practices ?

Restorative practices is a field within social sciences that proactively builds healthy relationships and a sense of community to prevent and address conflict and wrongdoing. Restorative Practices is not only increasingly being applied to address student behavior, rule violations and improve school climate and culture, but will also be required by all publicly funded schools in California the next 2 years.

Restorative

Practices

Why Are School’s approaching discipline using restorative practices?

Why Restorative Practices at HGCS ?

• Academic Difficulties
• When students are not in class, they will not be given the opportunity to learn. This leads to them falling behind
• Truancy
• Those who face harsh discipline can feel alienated from their school resulting in absenteeism
• Acting out/Retaliation
• After students lost their learning time and fall behind they can be left feeling frustrated or embarrassed and proceed to disrupt the class
• Trauma and Mental Health Consequences
• Unjust disciplinary actions lead to public humiliation, damaging self worth and a distrust in the educational system. This can trigger a cycle that results in risky behaviors, violence and alcohol and substance abuse.

National Bureau of Economic Research 2019

Paradigm Shift

How do we practice this at HGCS?

Tiered Interventions for Restorative Practices

Tier 1 Interventions:

Community building

Calm and neutral tone

Consistency

Active supervision

Review brief and specific expectations

Greetings at door

Individualized Positive Narration

Model expected behavior

Build rapport

Morning check-in’s

Use of Break Spaces

Structured movement or brain break

Redirect positively

Classroom lesson on appropriate behaviors

1 on 1 conversations

Positive family contact

Class job or task

Positive behavior token economy (Classdojo)

Tier 2 Interventions:

Weekly family check-ins

Frequent breaks

Determine interests

Role-play

Earn preferred activity

Transition breaks

Flexible seating

Positive peer buddy

Offer choices

Check-ins by preferred staff

Social skills group

Conference with family

Leadership responsibilities/important jobs

Give minimal attention to attention seeking behavior

Reflective Lunch with Teacher

Tier 3 Interventions:

Behavior Chart

Admin push in class

SST

Refer for psycho-educational evaluation or 504

After School Reflection

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Behavior Contract

Interagency support

Family and Admin

Conference

More Data On Restorative Practices in Schools and Stronger School Culture

Systemic Changes that Can Happen With Restorative Practices

Stronger Connection to School

Fosters Student Accountability and Growth

Students Gain Value in Repairing Relationships Rather than Fearful of Consequences

Reduce Misbehavior, Bullying, Violence and Crime Among Students

Improve Overall Climate for Learning

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…It Does Take Time

Let’s Define Bullying and the Restorative Practices Approach

Three elements of Bullying:

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1. Act is aggressive and intended to do harm

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• The acts are repeated over time

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• The acts occur within the context of power imbalance

Bullying and Restorative Practices

Prevention:

Define, teach and acknowledge school wide expectations

Be kind, safe and helpful

Community Building

Happens in the classroom during SEL

Assembles

School Events

Student Agency

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Response:

Define, teach , and acknowledge the harm that has been done with the offender

Support the victim

Restorative circle with both the victim and offered to repair harm and create a plan/ agreements and consequences to follow.

Support with an reintegration plan

Applying Restorative Practices ensures student avoid creating more harm rather than being fearful of consequences.

If you have any questions on Restorative Practices at HGCS please reach out to our Restorative Practices Coordinator at

Khawkins@hgcschool.org